Caring for your instrument
Students receive instruction in class on how to properly handle and care for their instruments. However, this information is helpful for you as well. Please read the excerpt below. If you ever have any questions about your child’s instrument please do not hesitate to contact me or the company that you are renting the instrument from.
Instruct students to carefully follow these guidelines for caring and maintaining their instruments and bows:
*Hamann, Donald L., and Robert Gillespie. 2004. Strategies for Teaching Strings. New York: Oxford University Press.
Instruct students to carefully follow these guidelines for caring and maintaining their instruments and bows:
- Only the player should be allowed to touch the instrument and bow. String instruments and bows are very fragile. Well-meaning parents and curious siblings can easily damage an instrument or a bow without intending to do so.
- Keep the instrument and bow in the case when not in use, with the case latched or completely zipped.
- Keep the instrument and bow out of direct sunlight.
- Keep the instrument and bow in moderate temperatures only. String instruments and bows warp and crack in extreme temperatures and high humidity. (Do not keep it in a room that is not heated, and do not keep near direct sources of heat or cold)
- Clean the instrument and bow after every use. Use a cotton cloth to wipe perspiration and rosin off the instrument (particularly the strings) and bow stick. Students should keep a cloth for cleaning in the instrument case. (Cloth should be soft, lint-free, and non-abrasive)
- Have all cracks repaired and open seams glued immediately.
- Every time after playing, loosen the bow hair. Loosen until just before individual bow hairs begin to touch the stick.
- Never touch the bow hair. Do not attempt to clean it.
- Hold the instrument only by the neck. Touching the body of the instrument will eventually damage the varnish.
- Store music away from the violin or viola case unless there is a specific zippered compartment designed to hold music.
- Rubbing alcohol may be applied to a soft cloth or cotton ball and used to clean the strings, fingerboard, and chin rest. The alcohol must not touch any varnish on the instrument, as it will damage it. (This should only be done periodically.)
- Periodically clean the instrument and bow stick with professional string instrument cleaner applied to facial tissue. Only cleaner manufactured for cleaning string instruments should be used, not wood furniture cleaners. (The rental companies clean the instrument before you receive it. Please do not do this yourself. Allow the rental company to do this for you as it only needs to be done approximately once a year.)
- Replace strings when they break, fray, or become false.
- Replace the bow hair annually.
*Hamann, Donald L., and Robert Gillespie. 2004. Strategies for Teaching Strings. New York: Oxford University Press.